Club Brugge narrowly failed to qualify for the Conference League final. Maxim De Cuyper headed Blauw-Zwart into an early lead that made Club seem to be heading for extensions, but a late penalty goal by Beltran punctured the final dream.
Nicky Hayen made four changes to the team that beat Antwerp on Sunday. Kyriani Sabbe replaced the injured Meijer, allowing De Cuyper to advance to left back. In midfield, Denis Odoi replaced the suspended Onyedika, while up front Thiago was flanked by Skóraś and Jutglà. They replaced Nusa and Skov Olsen, who had to drop out in extremis.
Due to last week's 3-2 defeat in Italy, Blue-Black needed to score one more goal anyway to force extensions. The Italians initially had most of the ball possession, but the first threat did come from Club. Thiago first just failed to print and moments later Dodo was able to head the leather just in front of De Cuyper after a fine cross from Jutglà. Fiorentina responded with a shot by Mandragora that went over goal, but it was Blauw-Zwart that took the lead after twenty minutes: a cross from Vanaken went into the goal via the crown of Maxim De Cuyper.
That was the signal for the visitors to shift up a gear. Mignolet had an excellent foot save on an attempt by Gonzalez, who broke through, and Beltran headed the rebound wide. Former Anderlecht striker Kouamé also failed to frame his header, while a shot by Belotti went wide via Ordóñez. Club got away well and missed the chance to make it 2-0 on the half-hour mark. Thiago was able to shake off Milenkovic, but his lay-back to Skóraś was just cleared by Dodo. Skóraś's subsequent corner kick was then one-timed over by Vanaken.
Ten minutes before halftime, Fiorentina came very close to the equalizer. Kouamé lashed out heavily from over 20 yards, but his blast collided with the underside of the crossbar on the goal line and back into the field. Both teams then had one more chance each: a free kick by De Cuyper went just wide via Ordóñez's belly and a hard shot by Kouamé whizzed over goal.
After the break, the first danger came again from Club: after a Bruges attack, Arthur Melo tapped the ball just wide of his own goal. De Cuyper's subsequent corner kick went to Odoi, but the Ghanaian Belgian got the ball on his back instead of on his head. That good start did not continue, however. The Italians started to press more and more, so Club could barely keep the ball in the team. A free kick from Biraghi went over the goal, while Ordóñez was able to head a cross from the same Biraghi just in front of Belotti.
Fifteen minutes before time, Fiorentina hit the goalpost twice. First, a free kick by Biraghi splattered the crossbar and immediately after, a header by Kouamé beached the post. Moments later, a shot by Duncan was blocked. It was sink or swim for Club, but seven minutes before time fate struck. Mechele hit Nzola's face with his knee and Turkish ref Umut Meler pointed to the spot. Lucas Beltran did not hesitate and popped the 1-1 past Mignolet.
In injury time, De Cuyper went down in the sixteen meters, but this time the ref allowed the game to continue. Denis Odoi - who had already been substituted - then picked up his second yellow after pushing the ball against Dodo's chest. In the absolute final seconds, Club came very close to scoring 2-1, but goalkeeper Terracciano had a fine reflex on a shot by Vanaken. No third European final for Blauw-Zwart, who can now focus on the title game.
UEFA Europa Conference League: semifinals (back)
Spectators: 29,000 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Halil Umut Meler (Tur)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Kyriani Sabbe, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper - Denis Odoi (86' Casper Nielsen), Hugo Vetlesen (70' Philip Zinckernagel), Hans Vanaken - Michał Skóraś (86' Antonio Nusa), Igor Thiago, Ferran Jutglà. Bench: Nordin Jackers, Joe Bursik, Casper Nielsen, Antonio Nusa, Éder Balanta, Jorne Spileers, Shion Homma, Joaquin Seys and Chemsdine Talbi. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
ACF Fiorentina: Pietro Terracciano - Dodo, Nikola Milenkovic, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Cristiano Biraghi - Lucas Beltran (90' Luca Ranieri), Arthur (71' Alfred Duncan), Rolando Mandragora - Nicolas Gonzalez, Andrea Belotti (71' M'Bala Nzola), Christian Kouamé. Coach: Vincenzo Italiano.
Yellow cards: Ordóñez, Thiago, Vetlesen, Odoi, Mechele, Milenkovic, Nzola, Dodo.
Red cards: 94' Odoi.
Goals: 21' De Cuyper (1-0), 85' Beltran (penalty, 1-1).
